Seems very much the forum to attract some feedback on a new rifle. I've been considering a .338 based rifle for Elk hunting here in AZ and hopefully some Alaskan hunting over the next few years. At this point I am leaning towards the Mk V Accumark in .340 Weatherby. Any suggestions or insight would be greatly appreciated.

Heat: allow me to be the first to laud your decision of a 340 Accumark. I have one and it's extremely accurate and very easy to load for. It's one of my favorite calibers and I think one of Weatherby's best. Commercial ammo is expensive and the rifle is a bit heavy to tote around, but aside from that, it's a great caliber for elk sized game. jorge

I thought you might reply jorge as I have seen a few of your posts here. There is just something about the Weatherby that keeps me wanting one. Though I intend to order it with the accubrake for bench shooting purposes the general idea is to remove that for field work. I know there is a pretty good sharp kick on this cartridge but understand that the Accumark does a pretty good job of managing the recoil. I'm not particularly recoil sensitive but don't want to develop a flinch either. Any insight you might feel the desire to pass on would be greatly appreciated.

Ken...

HEAT--With a 340 you have one of the best rifles available on today's market for anything in north america.Mine seems to talk to me when we go to the range.--like, no dummy that's not the way it's done---do it my way, and darned if it dosen't work. You will be amazed at what it will do.

I have prejudice against the Weatherby radiused shoulder and freebore. In my (admittedly limited) experience, neither is conducive to good accuracy.

It's hard to see why one would want more power than the .338 Winchester in this caliber. Velocities aren't all that different (my personal .338 elk load is a Nosler 225 Partition at 2950 fps), but the Weatherby's need of more powder to reach a similar velocity does add up to more muzzle blast and more recoil.

However, never one to argue when a man feels the need for more power, I have a good friend who has a .338/8mm Rem Mag. This provides you with a case of very slightly more capacity than the .340, a conventional 25 degree shoulder, and no freebore. He uses a 210 Nosler at almost 3200 fps, but a 250 can be driven up in the 2900 fps range. In my opinion, this wildcat is a much better cartridge than the .338 Ultramag in that it gives you at least one more round in the magazine, much less expensive brass, and similar velocity with less powder. While a virual ballistic dupicate of the .340 WBY, it lacks the Weatherby features that I find questionable.

Thank you Stonecreek. This is the type of information I am looking for. Though admittedly I really like the Weatherby's I've always been interested in the whole freebore concept. The radiused shoulder has never really been an issue to me though. One thing that I have found is that for whatever reason people find the Weatherby's to be very accurate. The .338 Win Mag was one of my other choices but knowing that I can hunt Elk with my 30-06, pretty much any .338 cal is going to be overkill. I have no problems with accurately putting the bullet where it needs to be but wanted more thump once it got there.

Thanks for the replies so far guys.

Ken...

I've never had an issue with the Weatherby freebore. And as a matter of fact, freebore on new Weatherbys is considerably less than it used t be. Reason being, with the newer, slower powders available reduces the need for it. Also, regarding the question of accuracy, I am NOT a benchrest shooter by any means, but all of my Weatherbys have been the most consistently accurate rifles I've owned. My worst shooter is a 3/4" rifle for a 3 shot group. Further, with a 225gr I can easily reach 3150 fps, considerably more than a 338 that I also I'm quite fond of. jorge

I've been down both roads (338-8MM and 340) go with the 340. Its an awsome round with great balistics and the ones I've owned were very accurate. These were before Accumarks so I'm sure you could expect nothing but good.

Excellent cart. As for the Accumark, it's a nice rifle. Having owned a custom Weatherby ( a 378 improved), I like Weatherby, for a push feed action. However I liked the Sako TRGS more ( it was a 338 Lapua).
If you reload, you can make 340 brass from 375 H&H brass. ( The way they used to)

If your thinking .340 Weatherby you might as well go all the way and get a 338 Ultra Mag. It will do everything the Weatherby will do better.

I'm not a Wby. rifle fan, but my elk hunting buddy has a custom Sako in .340Wby. & it is amazingly accurate for a big thumping rifle, shot many sub MOA groups w/ factory & handloads.
I like anything in .34 bore for elk & a .340Wby. or .338RUM would be a good choice for elk shots past 350yds. Up to that, I think the .338winmag does just as good a job w/ more rifle types available & a bit less recoil (no brake req'd.).

quote:

Originally posted by fredj338:
I like anything in .34 bore for elk & a .340Wby. or .338RUM would be a good choice for elk shots past 350yds. Up to that, I think the .338winmag does just as good a job w/ more rifle types available & a bit less recoil (no brake req'd.).

LOL...A .34 bore you say?

quote:

Originally posted by jorge:
with a 225gr I can easily reach 3150 fps, considerably more than a 338 that I also I'm quite fond of. jorge

You don't say...with what powder? H4350's max load is 80grs for 2994fps with a 200gr bullet in a 26" tube. I just can't see a 225 going faster.

BTW~ a starting load in a 24" 338RUM using H4350 with only 4grs more and runs at a lower pressure but runs at a higher velocity 3011fps.

H-4350 definetly not. Try using MRP, RL-19 or 22. You can readh 3k with a 250gr. If you go to the other 340 thread, Phurley also showed you some facts you chose to ignore, but you can read some of the other loads. I also use H-4831 wirh the 225gr A Frame and that gives me great accuracy@ 3050 fps, with a LOT less powder than the RUM. BTW is that a SAVAGE 338 RUM? jorge

quote:

Originally posted by jorge:
You can readh 3k with a 250gr. If you go to the other 340 thread, you can read some of the other loads. I also use H-4831 wirh the 225gr A Frame and that gives me great accuracy@ 3050 fps, with a LOT less powder than the RUM. BTW is that a SAVAGE 338 RUM?. jorge

Yea, ok 3k with 250's your full of it.
A SAVAGE? I guess you don't know your guns to well. Its an ENCORE!

I knew that hideous mis-shapen "thing" was an encore, but I thought there was a bolt from a rifle in the foreground and that what I was referring to. Please don't call me a liar. You don't know me and it doesn't take a lot of balls to do it from the safety of a computer screen. Just do a serch here on AR and you'll find plenty ox examples. jorge

Well said jorge. Though Wby loads their factory ammo pretty hot they do send the 225 grain Barnes at just over 3k. Mostly I was looking to be able to reach no more then 300 to 350 yards and still have a hard impact. The .340 works for that but the RUMs and certainly the .338-378 are way more then necessary. Here in AZ where we usually hunt Elk a shot somewhere between 75 and 250 yards is the norm. The .340 is going to be a bit much on the shorter distances but reasonable none the less. Obviously a .338 Win Mag would be a quite reasonable round in this case as well but a Weatherby is not in my battery yet and that old phrase of "because I can". Again, thanks for the input guys.

Ken...

Most reloading manuals don't give the 340 accurate velocities. All three of mine would do 3100 with 225s and 2900+ with 250s. This is with good case life and 24" barrels.

What can be done within safe preassures in your gun, is not the same as max loadings in a reloading manual.
If jorge claims 3K with a 250, I see no reason to doubt it.

Sure T/C, .338 is closer to .34 bore than .33 bore????

quote:

Originally posted by jorge:
Please don't call me a liar. You don't know me and it doesn't take a lot of balls to do it from the safety of a computer screen. Just do a serch here on AR and you'll find plenty ox examples. jorge

First off maybe you should go back when this pissing match all started! I just gave my opinion. You never replyed to any of my questions. If I think someone is full of crap "I'll tell them right to their face!" I don't hide behind a computer screen. If they want to fight because, I said they were full of it...BRING IT ON!

Im sorry if I rub you worng...I just don't believe you are getting 3000fps with a 250gr slug out of the 340! Not when a book max load list a 200gr @ 2990-3073fps.

BTW...Does this ring a bell?

quote:

Originally posted by jorge:
The muzzle blast of a 340 with a 24" barrel is quite impressive to say the least and even a freebored 340 Weatherby has a tough time getting 2900 with a 26"and a 250gr bullet. I owned a 24" barreled 340 and never achieved 2900 fps with a 250. I guess I should have known better than to question your vast experience and kowledge. But you know what? I'll conceed the point on the 22" 338 to Chuck Nelson, I still think it's way too short, but a 23" on a 340? that is a waste of the 340s potential. jorge

Enough said!

Yep, I said all of that and the rifle in question were older, German Weatherbys. The current rifle Im dealing with like I said in the start of this thread is an Accumark with different barrel (Criterion). Also, don't take my word for it. Phurley also told you on another thread that you chose to ignore that he is getting even faster velocities. Furthr,the individuals in the same thread you selectively quoted also achieved the velocities in question.

The fact that you are quoting "book" velocities really tells me that all you are doing is parroting what you read in a book and have not performed the testing yourself. Do you even OWN or have you FIRED a 340?

Any semi-experienced handloader will tell you that published "book" velocities which you so dogmatically quote, seldom match reality.

Let me further illustrate: "book" velocities in the Nosler book are nowhere near what can be achieved with safe and judicious loading, and of course a chronograph. With 84gr of IMR 7828 for example, I can easily reach 3300 fps with a 180gr TSX in my 300 Weatherby and that is not the max load either. Conversely, with the 300 H&H, the max "book" load of 65gr IMR 4350 in the Nosler book, barely makes it to 2890 in my rifle, yet the "book's" published figure is 3000 fps.

But for those that care these were the range results over the last few weeks with an average outside ambient temp of 88 deg:

225 A FRame 87.5 RL-22:
3172
3166
3170

250 Part 87gr MRP Acc but hot load,( primer pockets loose after three firings)
3023
3029
3066

250 Part w 84.9 MRP (.5" MOA and factory velocity equivalent)
2960
2939
2949

225 Swift A Frame 89gr H-4831 (also .5" MOA)
3027
3024
3023

240NFs 84.9 MRP 1.5" MOA ( which holds true to form as to the manufacturer's postulate that NFs tend to create more pressure than other bullets when loaded with equivalent weights)

3045
3017
3059

"Bring it on? There you go again, you really shouldn't let the internet drive your bravado. It proves nothing. All we have here is our credibility based on what me write and opine on, but I've never really questioned your veracity. jorge

PS: I was TOTALLY WRONG about 24" barrels and 340s. Brad and other CREDIBLE posters here showed me I had quite a bit to learn, so I took their suggestions on board and I actually LEARNED something. EDITED...

quote:

There is just something about the Weatherby that keeps me wanting one.

Me too....until I had one.....and then another and another.....I didn't have good things to say for any of them!!!

There are folks that like them.....I like the Vanguard however.

quote:

Originally posted by jorge:
The current rifle Im dealing with like I said in the start of this thread is an Accumark with different barrel (Criterion).
The fact that you are quoting "book" velocities really tells me that all you are doing is parroting what you read in a book and have not performed the testing yourself. Do you even OWN or have you FIRED a 340?

Any semi-experienced handloader will tell you that published "book" velocities which you so dogmatically quote, seldom match reality.

Let me further illustrate: "book" velocities in the Nosler book are nowhere near what can be achieved with safe and judicious loading, and of course a chronograph. With 84gr of IMR 7828 for example, I can easily reach 3300 fps with a 180gr TSX in my 300 Weatherby and that is not the max load either. Conversely, with the 300 H&H, the max "book" load of 65gr IMR 4350 in the Nosler book, barely makes it to 2890 in my rifle, yet the "book's" published figure is 3000 fps.

Ok, my mistake I missed that part of you having a different barrel. Sorry for being an ASS. I have been reloading for 25 years now and still learning new things. I know "book loads" are just a guide line. I may be wrong here but are they not tested for SAAMI MAX pressure limits ? I have always been told "go over those and you or anyone has to be careful." Have I ever tested or shot a 340 ? Yes...I have but it was the older version had it for 15 years. Just be careful!

PJ

That WBY sounds really like a good rifle. with my 338 RUM max fps with a 225 nosler bullet is 3178 fps. Three shot ave.

quote:

Originally posted by jro45:
my 338 RUM max fps with a 225 nosler bullet is 3178 fps. Three shot ave.

What powder are you using? What is your barrel lenght? My .338RUM has a 26" Shilen custom tube with a tight chamber. My Starting load was 94.3grs of H-1000 225gr Hornady SP Fed. 215M and it runs 2940-2966fps.

As promised, I just returned from the range and here are the results from my 26" Accumark Krieger/Criterion barrel. All bullets lightly crimped with custom Lee factory crimp die:

250gr Hornady Interlock
84.9gr MRP
3005
2998
3014
1" group

250gr TSX
85gr RL-22
2933
2945
2947
1/2" group

250gr NP
85gr RL-22
2979
2964
2970
right on top of the group above same accuracy

250gr NP
84.9 MRP
2914
2918
2923

I did notice that my usual load of 84.9 MRP with 250 NPs varies by about 50 fps higher with a different powder lot number.

All loads were within "acceptable hunting accuracy," that is all three shot groups fell within a 2" point of impact. I think due to powder availability and accuracy potential, the 85gr RL-22 is probably going to be my new "keeper" load as MRP is no longer available here in the US.

My previous session was with 225gr A Frames and 89gr H-4831 (which I prefer over RLs) and those produced accurate velocities of 3011, 3003,3011 and printed about 1" higher that the TSXs & NPs loaded with RL-22.

And the surprise of the day:
240gr North Forks
87gr RL-19
3140
3107
One ragged hole, but discretion was the better part of valor and although there were no ejector marks and the bolt was not sriff, I felt the velocity was way too hot and the primers were a bit "flatter" than the rest of the loads above. Ambient temp was 88deg.

Since I am in Pensacol and not at home, I will not be able to ascertain case expansion or primer pocket issues until I am home next weekend. jorge

quote:

The .340 works for that but the RUMs and certainly the .338-378 are way more then necessary.

The reality is that the 340wby and 338 ultramag are very close in performance.If the 338ultramag is way more than necessary,then the 340 wby would also be way more than necessary.Velocity wise it certainly is possible to achieve higher than published weatherby velocities in the weatherby cartridges by handloading as long as you are willing to live with the pressures that are produced.The weatherby factory loads are very hot and in my rifles they produced ejector marks on the cases and excessive case head expansion in warm weather.I personally would not try to exceed the velocities produced with factory weatherby loads,as I am not comfortable shooting a rifle producing even more pressure.However that choice must be made by each individual shooter.

Weatherby factory velocities for the 250gr is 2965 +/-, but they can vary as much as 50 fps with individual rifles. Published factory equivalent load for the 250gr is 87gr MRP. I use their next lightest load at 84.9 for a published 49,600 PSI.

I am totally comfortable with that. I've owned close to ten Weatherbys and none exibited any pressure issues except one load of factory ammo with the standard Barnes X in a 300 and I've used the 300 Weatherby with Nosler and hornady factory loads in africa with temps in excess of 100 deg F with no problems. The RL-22 is almost the exact duplicate of MRP and the H-4831 load I used with the A FRame is the max load listed in the Swift reloading book that by their own admission (Swift) is a very conservative manual. Yep, to each his own. jorge

Heat
I had a 340 Wby once. I killed elk with it.
With the 210 Nosler Patition it shoots as flat as the 300 Wby. With the 250 Nosler Partition it hits like the 375H&H, but shoots flatter.
It is a great caliber for BIG NA game, one of the best.

quote:

Originally posted by T/C Nut:

quote:

Originally posted by jro45:
my 338 RUM max fps with a 225 nosler bullet is 3178 fps. Three shot ave.

What powder are you using? What is your barrel lenght? My .338RUM has a 26" Shilen custom tube with a tight chamber. My Starting load was 94.3grs of H-1000 225gr Hornady SP Fed. 215M and it runs 2940-2966fps.

I using RL25 98grs MAX Load!!

I have a 26" barrel and at 200 yds they give me a 7/8" group with Nosler Accubond bullets.

With a Hornady 225 gr bullet I can only get under 3100 fps